Another "Cutting through the live mix" thread...

[Foozie.Pinetree]

So I just joined a band, playing original tunes somewhere between Pop-Punk, Hardcore, and Psychedelic.
I play lead through an Orange Thunderverb 50. And the other guitarist doesn’t have his own amp (he’s more of a singer that happens to play guitar) so I’m gonna let him use my 1986 Marshall JCM800, and I’m kinda worried about cutting through. Our gigs are Live, so no mic’s, and he’s gonna be just doing rhythm.
How does an Orange cut through in a live setting? (Orange running through an Orange 2x12 closed, Marshall through Avatar 2x12 w/ Greenbacks, closed)

I feel that the Orange would make a better Rhythm amp as it's thick and huge, but not really into owning a $3000 rig that I don't use so if it turns out that I may be better off with something different, I have no reservations with selling the Thunderverb. I buy and sell all the time so it's no problem.

If you have some suggestions on amps that compliment a JCM 800 then I would LOVE some suggestions.

 

[Spaceboy]

Honestly, Oranges can struggle against brighter, more mid-driven amplifiers. How about you use the JCM and he uses the Thunderverb? There’s no reason to sell it if it’s still getting proper use in your band.

 

[Foozie.Pinetree]

Honestly, Oranges can struggle against brighter, more mid-driven amplifiers. How about you use the JCM and he uses the Thunderverb? There’s no reason to sell it if it’s still getting proper use in your band.

I would let him use it but I don't really care for the idea of having a $3000 amp rig that I won't even be using. Plus having an effects loop is basically a must have for me. I'm looking at Friedman amps or something Marshally that cuts through and has an effects loop.

 

[rstites]

FWIW, it's pretty easy to add a loop the single channel master volume Marshalls - Metropolous has one with instructions that looks pretty good and fairly inexpensive. I believe all the reissues offer them. Just a thought with that current amp.

 

[4406cuda]

My Friedman Small Box has no problem cutting through in a 6 piece band.

 

[shredhead7]

The Marshall will be brighter, but dial back the presence (which is really the sweet spot on those anyway) on it and you should end up with a nice mix between the two. Also remember, it's not what sounds good at home, but what sounds good in a mix. The same is true for recording, recorded guitars are not the sound most of us think yeah! when solo'd in the mix. But, you layer the guitars and the bass and suddenly, that is the best tone in the world. Try to carve out some frequencies for each other, him being the higher mids and you the lower, maybe volume him down a tad and you will be great.

 

[the rossness]

Take a listen to The Damned Things.. They had three Guitarists. Played Orange, Randall (marshall vibe) and Fryette. Listen to how they did things.

 

[wIsEbLooD]

just trade that orange for another 800, rawk.

 

[Exo-metal]

just trade that orange for another 800, rawk.

This^

 

[Spaceboy]

Honestly, Oranges can struggle against brighter, more mid-driven amplifiers. How about you use the JCM and he uses the Thunderverb? There’s no reason to sell it if it’s still getting proper use in your band.

I would let him use it but I don't really care for the idea of having a $3000 amp rig that I won't even be using. Plus having an effects loop is basically a must have for me. I'm looking at Friedman amps or something Marshally that cuts through and has an effects loop.

You still own it and could play it whenever you want. It's your band's sound you are investing in. If you just want to buy something new that's always fun, but I was offering the easiest and most obvious solution.

 

[Racerxrated]

Just eq the 800 darker, and the Orange with more highs/mids. When I gigged my C+ I used a pedal to color the tone with more mids and that worked great. Either or both options might work. Beats selling your rig at least until you try it.

 

[cecilbag]

I would personally play the 800 and let him use the orange. The prices on the orange are 900-1200 used so maybe try trading it for a Splawn which will give you the Marshall vibe with a solo boost and a clean.

 

[skoora]

Throw an EQ in the loop of the Thunderverb and you easily tailor it how you want.

 

[Oblivion DC]

Try putting a tube screamer type pedal in front of the Orange and see if that doesn’t get you a mid-hump that’ll cut through.

 

[petejt]

Honestly, Oranges can struggle against brighter, more mid-driven amplifiers. How about you use the JCM and he uses the Thunderverb? There’s no reason to sell it if it’s still getting proper use in your band.

That's what I thought - just swap the amps around. You use the JCM 800, and your singer/guitarist uses the Thunderverb.

 

[Foozie.Pinetree]

So I came up with the solution of, I had him use my Supro Thunderbolt and I used the JCM 800, set pretty clean and used an Overrated Special to boost that drive. It ended up sounding AMAZING together.